This blog was created and for use by the Kepong CSCQ Practitioners as a virtual community centre. Comments concerning the Kepong Station can be posted here. Notices of whatever nature concerning Kepong Station will also be posted here as well. Your participation and feedback are welcome. Let us together strive for improvements of health both physically and mentally.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Black rice is the new cancer-fighting superfood, claim scientists

Black rice - revered in ancient China but overlooked in the West -
could be the greatest 'superfoods', scientists revealed today.
The cereal is low in sugar but packed with healthy fibre and plant compounds that combat heart disease and cancer, say experts.
Scientists
from Louisiana State University analysed samples of bran from black
rice grown in the southern U.S. They found boosted levels of
water-soluble anthocyanin antioxidants.

Black rice is low in sugar but packed with
healthy fibre and plant compounds that combat heart disease and cancer,
according to scientists

Anthocyanins provide the dark colours of many fruits and vegetables,
such as blueberries and red peppers. They are what makes black rice 'black'.

Research suggests that the dark plant antioxidants, which mop up harmful
molecules, can help protect arteries and prevent the DNA damage that
leads to cancer.

Food scientist Dr Zhimin Xu said: 'Just a
spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin
antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less
sugar, and more fibre and vitamin E antioxidants.

'If berries
are used to boost health, why not black rice and black rice bran?
Especially, black rice bran would be a unique and economical material to
increase consumption of health-promoting antioxidants.'

Centuries ago black rice was known as 'Forbidden Rice' in ancient China because only nobles were allowed to eat it.

Today black rice is mainly used in Asia for food decoration, noodles, sushi and desserts.

But food manufacturers could potentially use black rice bran or bran
extracts to make breakfast cereals, beverages, cakes, biscuits and other
foods healthier, said Dr Xu.

When rice is processed, millers
remove the outer layers of the grains to produce brown rice or more
refined white rice - the kind most widely consumed in the West.

Brown rice is said to be more nutritious because it has higher levels of healthy vitamin E compounds and antioxidants.

But according to Dr Xu's team, varieties of rice that are black or purple in colour are healthier still.
They added that black rice could also be used to provide healthier,
natural colourants. Studies linked some artificial colourants to cancer
and behavioural problems in children.

The scientists presented their findings today at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.

Victoria
Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'In
reality, it's unlikely there's a single food out there that will have a
great impact on lowering your risk of heart disease. Healthy eating is
about a balanced diet overall.

'It's great if you can eat more
of some groups of healthy foods, like having five portions of fruit and
veg a day, but there is still no conclusive evidence that 'super foods'
alone make a real difference to your heart health.'

The new superfood – "forbidden" black rice

Forget blueberries and blackberries, black rice is the new superfood, claim
scientists.

Just a spoonful of black rice – a variety from Asia – contains more of the
health giving properties than the equivalent so-called superfoods.

Black rice, which can be crushed into a bran, is sometimes known as "Forbidden
Rice" because in ancient China nobles commandeered every grain for
themselves and forbade the common people from eating it.

"Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting
anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but
with less sugar and more fibre and vitamin E antioxidants," said Dr
Zhimin Xu at the Louisiana State University.

"If berries are used to boost health, why not black rice and black rice
bran? Especially, black rice bran would be a unique and economical material
to increase consumption of health promoting antioxidants."

Like fruits, "black rice" is rich in anthocyanin antioxidants,
substances that show promise for fighting heart disease, cancer, and other
diseases.

Food manufacturers could potentially use black rice bran or the bran extracts
to boost the health value of breakfast cereals, beverages, cakes, cookies,
and other foods.

Dr Xu, who reported her findings at the American Chemical Society conference
in Boston, said that farmers are interested in commercially growing black
rice which would make it even more cost effective.

关于我们 About Us

Name: CSCQ Kepong Station

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

中国鹤翔庄气功简称鹤功，我们是一群鹤功的爱好及修炼者，我们的练功时间：每星期一及四从晚上八点至九点半，地点是甲洞帝沙华文小学之食堂前。欢迎各界参与我们的练功活动，请光临多多指教。
We practice twice weekly on every Monday and Thursday from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm at our station located at SRJK (C) Taman Desa Jaya, Jalan 31, Taman Desa Jaya, 52100 Kuala Lumpur. You are welcome to join us in our practice.

The practice of Qigong is for the strengthening of our body and curing of diseases. To make it effective, we will have to satisfy the following 3 requirements:

(1) We must have trust. Firstly, we must have trust in ourselves and secondly, we must have trust in Qigong. Qigong is a science that explores the secrets of our human body and life messages.
Its special effects exploit our bodyâ€™s potential and bring about self curative measures. We will have to trust ourselves in the use of Qigong practice for the curing of chronic diseases. Believe that through persistent and consistent Qigong practice, these diseases will certainly be cured together with the improvement in the quality of our physical body.

(2) We must have determination. We must not be afraid of hardship and tiredness. In times of difficulties, we have to stay firm in our determination to overcome all difficulties. We must be determined to bring positive results to our Qigong practice. Overcome the little time we may have owing to our busy work schedules and household chores.
Especially when we encounter recurrence of the diseases we used to have due to the flow of Qi in our Qigong practice, we must stay firm and continue the practice without interruptions.

(3) We must be persistent. Qigong practice needs persistency and perseverance in order to achieve good results. Do not simply interrupt the Qigong practice or stop practicing when we feel better.
This brings about the wastage of our previous efforts as when the genuine Qi in your body is stopped when it is about to work. This may also cause blockages in the meridians and channels. As a result, the diseases recur. Believe that Qigong will never let you down and success will eventually arrive.
Be persistent in our practice for several years and good results will be achieved.
Do not be in a hurry to achieve success as the negative may result. There is no such thing as "once and for all".